Ore-separating device.



Patented Dec. 30,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

wr 1J. m MW N m APPLICATION FILED APR. Il. I9l6.

VI/Imaam A. H. JONES.

ORE SEPARAIING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. Il. I9I6.

.FIG Mq Patented Dee. 30, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ferred embodiment of ARCI-HE H. JONES, OF TONOPAI-L- NEVADA.

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Specification of Letters Patent. .Pmtgimtgd DQ@ 3@9 gmg Application led April 11, 11,916.y Serial No. 90,316.

To all whom t may concern.' n

Be' it known that 1, ARGHIE H, Jonas, of Tonopah, in the county of Nye' and State of Nevada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in Gre-Separating Devices, whereof the following a sp`ecication, vreference being had to the'acoompanyin@ drawings.

y invention relates to the so-called fiotation type of ore separating processes, in which ore pulp is agitated in the presence of an oily reagent, and the primary object of my improvements is to accomplish the necessary agitation by mechanical and pneumatic means acting in conjunction with one another, under conditions which permit complete control of the process and which afford the maximum of economic efficiency. i

Other improvements relate 4to conveniencev and stability of structure, and simplicityof the operating elements.

rlhe accompanying drawings show a prethe invention, adapted to be directly driven by a superimposed electric motor, Figure 1, being a view in side elevation,

Fig. H, being a vertical central section on the plane at right angles to the showing in F 1g. l;

Fig. 1H, being a plan view with the upper portion of the casing removed;

Fig. 1V, being a horizontal section on the line 1V, 1V, of Fig. lll, and r Fig. V, being a partial view in perspective, showing certain details interior parts.

The device is conveniently supported upon an elevated open base 1, to which is secured an internally coned ring 2, to form a seat for a casing 3, whose lower portion is in the form of a truncated cone, but which terminates, at its upper region, in a'cylindrical extension 4, open at the top as shown in the sectional view of Fig. l1. Said cylindrical extension. carries a framework comprising a plurality of upwardly converging arms 5, which terminate in a flat top 6, adapted to support the casing 7, of' an electric motor, or to carry' driving mechanism for a downwardly depending vertical shaft 10. Suitable bearings for said shaft are aii'orded by means of a central boss 8, projecting downward from the top 6, and by arms or spokes 9, extending inward from the arms 5. Centrally located within the casing 3, is a vertical cylinder 12, secured at its lower of one of the.

end by means of lugs 13, which are preferably cast integrally with the basel, the lower portion of the cylinder being cut away between the lugs7 so as to afford openings 14, between the projections which are bolted to the lugs 13. A second frustoconical casing 15, of similarxpitch to the casing 3,-is secured at its lower extremity to thai-cylinder 12, at the level ,nf the top of is supported by means of said spider and covers the opening between the top of the .cone v15, and the wall of the cylinder 12. Upon said perforated diaphragm an annular piece of textile fabric 22, having a comparatively close mesh, is secured so as to` constitute a uniformly porous upper surface for the chamber betweenthe cone 15 and cylinder v12. Said diaphragm and fabric may be held in position by radial strips 23,

varranged on top thereof, and secured to the arms 2O. An inlet pipe 24, for compressed air, derived vfrom` any suitable source of power,leads intosald chamber, and a pipe 25, for supplying oregpulp, leads into the intersp'ace 16, between the cones ,15, and v3, preferably near the bottom thereof. The lower portion of the downwardly depending shaft 10, carries -tw'o sets of propeller blades, indicated respectively at 11, and 17, the upper blades being preferably of greater radial extent than the lower ones.

ports 13, are baffle plates 26 extending radially- `inward from the wall of the cylinder 12,

Mounted Y Aupon the base 1, at intervals between the suptapering discharge box or hopper 30, is ar A ranged, having an outlet 31, at its lower end controlled by a valve 28, connected in the usual way to a float 29, arranged at-the desired level within the cylindrical extension l 4:, of the outer casing. A circ-ular launder 35, having an inclined bottom 36, leading to a spout 37,v surrounds the upper portion o-f the said extension 4. A cylinder 38, of somewhat larger diameter than the cylinder' 12, is arranged concentrically therewith and extends downward a short distance below the upper edge rthereof, forming an annular discharge opening just above the porous diaphragm 20, 21.

' A discharge pipe 40, leads downward from the bottom of the casing 3,l said pipe being normally closed during operation, but permitting the complete emptying of the apparatus when desired.

It will thus be seen that the organization comprises an outer casing and an inner casing arranged with-an interspace betweentheir walls, a conduit communicating with such interspace,:but inclosed with relation to the inner casing, and extending upward to a point above the latter, the top of the inner casingbeing composed of a porousmedium, said parts being combined with a feed pipe fo-r ore pulp, communicating with said interspace, a supply pipe for compressed a1r, communicating with the chamber formed by the inner casing, and propelling means located within the conduit.

In 'the instance shown,I the upper edge of the outer casing is of the same level throughout its entire periphery, so that the overfiow takes place all around and hence the launder surrounds the entire periphery. I do not, however, limit myself to this arrangement, because it isv obvious that the region of overflow could be more` limited, and the launder or other collecting device correspondingly limited to the region adjacent to that of overflow; It is also obvious 4that the discharging device for treated gangue could be arranged otherwise than is shown, and ymight be automatically controlled by different means, or might be subject only to manual control.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The shaft 10, is actuated in the direction proper for upward propulsion through the conduit formed by the cylinder 12. Ore pulp is admitted through the feed pipe 25, to the interspace 16, between the two cones, and, descending to the bottom, fiows into the interior of the cylinder 12, through the openings 14. The oily material or other fiotation reagent is admitted with the pulp, orotherwise supplied. rl`he ore pulp is agi tated by the propellers, aided by the action of the afile plates, and passes upward and overflows annularly over the upper edge.

` divided or atomized state through the posteady,

rous diaphragm, and passes into the emulsified pulp flowing downward upon' said dia.- phragm, thus intensifying the emulsion and producing a Zone of froth, carrying in suspension the valuesof the ore. The stream of heavierpulp, after descending over the porous diaphragm, falls into the' annular interspace 16, and renters the upwardly moving streaiu due to the action of the propellers, so thatany given unit of ore is repeatedly subjected to the emulsifying action.

As value-carrying froth accumulates at the top `of' the apparatus it overflows the rim of the cylindrical extension 4, and passes out into the launder 35, from which it is discharged at any desired` point. When the contents have attained a predetermined level, the action of the fioat 29, will open the outlet of the discharge boX 30, and thus automatically permit the escape of gangue at a rate determined by the feed and in conformity withJ any predetermined level of the fioat 29. i.

I thus combine in a single machine the desirable properties of mechanical and pneumatic agitation in the flotation process, the

frothing action being more efficient than any y the diffusion of air or atomizing effect due to the relatively thin layer ofore pulp upon the porous diaphragm. The pulp circulation is maintain-ed with great efiiciency and uniformity and can be controlled so as to subject the pulp to repeated treatment to any desired extent. l

It will be noted that mechanically and functionally the machine is self-contained in one unit, affording a complete circulation which can be persisted in to the desired extent without intermediate discharge or intake ports, such as are required for. prolonged treatment by a series of units as heretofore proposed. v

The circulation is maintained in a strong, continuous, substantially uniform flow, upward through the conduit 11, and returning through the conduit-means orin; terspace between the casings 3, and 1t?, w1thout any period of quiescence or relative rest in either conduit or conduit-ineans.

The return conduit means extending substantially closedy from, the discharge .edge

meente of the perforated medium to the pulp-addefinite, substantially direct, unobstructed path. The? free discharge of the ore pulp annularly all around the -conduit ll, directly upon and Over the .substantially uni obstructed perforated .medium prolongs the swirl and so promotes aerationthrough the perforated medium.

Having thus described my invention, ll claim:

l. ln a dotation apparatus, the'combination of an upright conduit with means for admitting ore-pulp at its lower portion and a free annular overflow at its upper portion; yfan unobstructed annular perforated medium surrounding said conduit and 'adapted toy receive 'the overflow directly therefrom; means .for mechanically agitating the ore-pulp within said conduit and discharging it'with an outward swirl upon said perforated medium; and means for forcing air through said perforated medium into the pulp thereon.

2. ln a flotation apparatus, `the combination of an upright conduit with an opening for admitting'ore-pulp at itslower portion and an overflow at its upper portion; a perforated medium adapted to receive said overflow; means for forcing air through said perforated -medium into the pulp theret on; restricted return'conduit-means extending from the discharge edge of said perforated medium to the opening in said first mentioned conduit, said conduit means being closed throughout its length; and means for maintaining a strong, continuous,

uniform circulation ,of' pulp through said conduit and conduit-means, agitating it within said conduit and discharging it with a swirling motion upon said perforated mediuma 3. The .combination of `an outer casing having an opening at ita upper extremity; an inner casing arranged with an interspace between its wall and the wall of the outer casing, said inner casing having a porous upper Surface; a conduit-communicating with said interspace, but closed with rela.- tion to the inner casing and leading through the same to a point above the top thereof; propelling and agitating means located within said conduit; means for supplying compressed air to the interior of the inner casing; .means for supplyingI pulp to the interspace between thecasings; and a collecting device arranged adjacent to the region of overHow at the top of the outer casing. i i

4. Yilhe combination of an outer conical casing having an open top; an inner conical casing arranged with its wall at a distance fr from the wall of the outer casing to provide an interspace; a cylinder axially arranged with relation to said inner casing, said cylinder being open at its lower extremity 'to communicate with said interspace, but being *closed with relation to the inner casing and terminating above the upper surface thereof, said inner casing having an inclined upper surfacecomprising a porous medium; propelling and .agitating means arranged Within said cylinder; means for admitting pulp to said interspace; means for admitting compressedv air to the interior of the inner casing; means for permitting the controlled discharge of gangue from said interspace; and means for collecting the oyerdow from the outer casing, substantially as set forth.

5. rl`he combination of an outer conical casv ing having an open top an inner conical cas-` ing arranged with its wall at a dista-nce from the wall of the outer casing to provide an inter-space; a cylinder axially arranged with relation to said inner casing, said cyllnder being open at its lower extremity to communicate with said interspacefbut being closed nwith relation tol the inner casing and terminating above the upper surface thereof, said inner casing having an inclined upper surface comprising a porous medium; an agitator ropeller arranged within said cylinder an provided with suitable actuating mechanism; baffle plates arranged within said cylinder in operative relation to said propeller; means for admitting pulp to said interspace; means for admitting compressed air to the interior of the inner casing; means for permitting the controlled discharge of gangue from said interspace; and means for collecting the poverdow from the outer cas'- ing, substantiallyjas set forth.

6. The combination of an outer conical casing having a cylindrical upper portion open' at the top; an inner conical casing arranged with its wall at a distance from the wall of the outer casing to form an interspace and having afporous upper surface comprising textile material and a perforated rigid support therefor; a cylinder extending through said inner casing, said cyllnder being provided with openings at its lower extremitycommunicating with the interspace between the casings, and 'extending above the top of the inner casing; propelling and agitating mechanism arranged within said cylinder; means for admittin ore pulp to said interspace; means for a mitting compressed air to the interior ofthe inner casing; a collecting device arranged .adjacent to the overliow edge of the outer casing; and controllable means for discharging gangue fromv said interspace, substantially l as set forth.

7. The'combination of an outer conical casing having a cylindrical upper portion t open at the top, an inner conical casing arranged with its wall at a distance from the wall of the outer casing to form an inter space, and having a porous top; a cylinder closed with relation to said inner casing and extending vthrough and above the same;

said cylinder being provided with openings at its lower extremity eon'lmunicating with the interspace between the casing; propelling and agitating mechanism arranged within said cylinder; a cylinder surrounding the upper extremity of said first mentioned cylinder and depending 'below the upper edge thereoitoform an annular overflow opening above the porous top' of the inner casing; means for admitting ore pulp to said intersp'ace between the casings; means for admitting compressed air to the interior of the inner casing; a collecting device arranged adjacent to the overflow edge of the outer casing; vand controllable means for discharging gangue from said interspace, substantially as Set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name at Tonopah, Nevada, this fourth day of April, 1916.

ARGHIE H. JONES. Witnesses:

FREDERICK BRADSHAW,

C. DUCHENEAU. 

